Adjustable spreader for tubular fabrics.



H. A. SHIELDS.

ADJUSTABLE SPREADER FOR-TUBULAR FABRlCS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1916.

1,215,419. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

g. 5 u e /vfa/ fld/ryi 1377/19/03.

W Maw flflamays, Y

ERS CO1.PHOIDJJTNOUWASNINGTON To all whom it may concern:

HARRY A. SHIELDS, or GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

' AiDJUSTABTiE STREADER FOR TUBULAR FABRICS. 1 7

Be it known that I, HARRY A. SHIELDS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at' Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ad-- j ustable Spreaders for Tubular Fabrics; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an adjustable spreader for tubular fabrics, said spreader being adapted for use in the spreading and positioning of tubular knitted fabrics especially when in a wet condition, for instance, after such fabrics has been washed, shrunk or the like,

When in a wet condition fabrics of this character are more or less twisted and tangled and my invention has for its object and purpose the ready handling of such fabrics such that when the fabric has been drawn over the spreader it is positioned substantially flat and with the wales of the fabric lying lengthwise of the tube. The spreader for attaining these ends comprises certain novel structure fully disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the spreader.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation from the left of Fig. 2, and V Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating an adjustable element in the connection of the spreader arms and wings to the remainder of the device.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the construction of the spreader a rod 1 is used at one end formed with a section 2 turned at right angles to serve as a hook for attaching the same to any cylindrical support upon which the tubular fabric may be placed. A distance from this hook a block 3 is permanently secured to the rod 1, spreader wings and arms 1 and 5 being pivotally connected thereto. There are two each of the wings and arms located directly opposite each other, the wings being positioned at right angles to the plane of the arms as shown. The wings are widened outwardly from their point of pivotal connection and are bent and formed adjacent their outer Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed October 9, 1916. Serial No. 124,630.

ends to provide a curved convex surface on the outside as fully shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

A sleeve 6 is slidably mounted upon the rod 1 and may be held in a number of positions withrespect thereto, the rod in one side being slotted to provide a plurality of consecutive tongues 7 separated by slots 8.

A pawl or dog 9 of the formation shown in Fig. has its inner end formed to enter a slot 8 between any two consecutive tongues 7 and is adapted to be operatedlby a lever 10 pivotally mounted between its end on the sleeve '6. A coil spring 11 normally tends tooperate the lever to such position that the end of the dog 9 will be forced into a slot 8.

A link 12 is pivotally connected to a member 13 secured to each arm 5, the links at their inner ends being pivotally connected between ears 14. formed integral with the sleeve 6. A'pair of screw threaded members 15 onepivotally connected to the inner side of each wing l. and the other similarly pivotally connected between ears 14 on the sleeve 6 located at right angles tothe ears 14: to which the links 12 are secured and connected by a turn buckle 16, serve to adjust ably and pivotally connect the wings 4: to the sleeve 6; It is apparent that as this sleeve is adjusted: along the length of the rod 1 said wings and arms 1 and 5 may be positioned at a greater or less distance from the rod.

In practice the tubular fabric is drawn over the spreader passing from any suitable cylindrical support with.which section 2 is connected and thence over the curved portions of the wings 4,,the eflect thereof'being to givethe tubular fabric its regular tubular form, and thence passing from the spreader around the ends of arms 5, These arms serve to draw the fabric into flat shape. The fabric may pass from the arms to any suitable machine such, for instance, as a drier, and it will lie in substantially fiat condition and with the wales of the fabric located parallel to the length thereof. Wings 4. serve to disentangle and turn the tube to proper position while the arms 5 flatten it and spread it in such fiat condition so that it may be readily handled.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a rod, a block secured to the rod, arms pivotally connected to the block on opposite sides thereof and extending along the length of the'rod, a pair of wings pivotally connected one on each side ofrthe block and between the points of pivotal connection of said arms, said wings being widened and formed with convex outer surfaces adjacent their free ends, and means to simultaneously adjust both arms and wings with respect to the rod, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, a rod, a block secured to the rod, arms pivotally connected to the block on opposite sides thereof and extending along the length of the rod, a pair of wings also pivotally secured to the block one on each side thereof and between the arms, said wings being widened and curved adjacent their free ends to provide convex outer surfaces, means to simultaneously adjust both arms and wings with respect to the rod, and means to adjust the wings with respect to, the arms, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, a rod, a block secured to the rod, arms pivotally connected to the block on opposite sides ofthe rod, Wings pivotally connected to the block on opposite sides of the rod and between the arms, said wings each adjacent its free end being widened and curved to form a convex outer surface, a sleeve adjustably mounted on the rod, and link connections between the sleeve and said arms and wings.

4. In a device of the character described, a rod, a block secured to the rod, arms pivotally connected tothe block on opposite sides of the rod, wings pivotally connected to the block on opposite sides of the rod and between the arms, said wings each adjacent its free end being widened and curved to have a convex outer surface, a sleeve adjustably mounted on the'rod, links pivotally connected to the sleeve and said arms, and independently adjustable connections between said sleeve and the wings, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, a rod, a section at one end of said rod turned at an angle to form a hook, a block secured to the rod, wings pivotally connected to the block on opposite sides of the rod, said wings adjacent their free ends being widened and curved to form convex outer surfaces, arms pivotally connected to the block between the wings and extended a distance beyond the ends of said wings, a sleeve slidably mounted on the rod, means to secure the sleeve in any one of a plurality of positions on the rod, and connections between the sleeve and said wings and arms, substantially'as described.

6. In a device of the character described, a rod, a block secured thereto, a pair of wings pivotally connected to the block and at their free ends widened and curved to form convex outer surfaces, a pair of arms pivotally,connected to the block between the wings, said arms extending beyond the ends of the wings, a sleeve loosely mounted on the rod, said rod being provided with a plurality of consecutive slots separated by tongues, a dog adapted to engage between any two consecutive tongues, a spring operated lever for actuating the dog mounted in the sleeve, and a link connection between the sleeve and each of the arms'and wings, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY A. SHIELDS.

Copies'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

